Combination-lock for umbrellas



No. 752,489. PATENTED FEB.1 6, 1904. I

R. B. WAITB.

COMBINATION LOOK FOR UMBRBLLAS.

APfLIOATION FILED MAY 9, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

"Unit! 1 .7 V F 22 2W lllwum IN vsiv-ron A TTOHNE XS.

UNITED S ATES- i atented ieeruar' 16,- m4.

PATENT O FICE.

RALPH B. WAITE, or SPRINGVILLE, NEW YORK.

COMBINATION-1706K FTOR UMBRELLAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,489, dated February 16, 1904.

I Application filed May 9, 1903. Serial No. 156,494. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: W

Be it known that I, RALPH B. WAI'1E, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Springville, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combination-Locks for Umbrellas, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in combinationlocks particularly applicable to umbrellas and the like. I

It is the object of my invention to provide a device which when placed upon the umbrellahandle will incase the spring latch therein and prevent the umbrella being opened by parties not familiar with the combination of the lock.

A further object of my invention is to pro.- vide asimple combination-lock which will render it possible for one familiar with the working thereof to open the umbrella in the dark,

the proper combination of the lock being recognized bya number of clicking sounds caused by contact of certain portions of the look when turned or operated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive combination lock which may be applied to any umbrella.

With the above-recited objects and others of a similar nature in view the invention con sists in the construction, combination, andarrangement of parts, as is described in this specification, delineated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the appended claims;

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in'all the figures.

Figure 1 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing my improved device in its closed or looking position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the look after it has been released to permit the opening of the umbrella. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig.2, Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the lined 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is-a detail perspective view of the upper portion of the lock-casing, and Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are detail views of portions of the locking rings or disks.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, A designates the rod-staff of an ordinary umbrella, having inserted therein a well-known form of catch or lockingspring B. Slidably mounted upon the staff or rod of the umbrella is a tubular runnersleeve 5, having therein an elongated slot 6, adapted to permit the latch-spring B to protrude therethrough' when the umbrella is in its closed position, the aforesaid tubular runner-sleeve 5 carrying at its upper end a collar 7, provided with notches 8 for the seating of the lower ends'of the umbrella-stretchers 9.

I will now proceed to describe in detail my improved combination-lock, which is adapted to fit over and 'incase the locking-spring B, thereby preventing the latter from being operated by direct manual contact or by other means. I

My lock comprises, essentially, a tubular casing 10, having in its upper end portion a circumferential indentation or inwardly-formed flange 11, the extreme upper end ofthe easing 10 having a cap or covering 12, adapted to be soldered, riveted, or otherwise suitably secured after the interior mechanism of the lock has been'assembled in said casing. The lower portion of the casing is formed with a reduced or round end portion 13, which terminates in a downwardly-extending flange 14, adapted to bear lightly against the sleeve 5. It is to be noted in this connection that the lower end of the sleeve 5 is provided with a retaining flange or shoulder 15, which prevents the casing' of the sleeve from sliding over the latch B and down to the handle portion of the umbrella, thereby exposing the aforesaid latch. WVithin the upper portion of the casing that is, the portion between the indented flange 11 and the top of the capis inserted the locking mechanism proper of thedevice, the detail parts of which I have shown in Figs. 7,8, 9, and 10, such locking mechanism comprising a series of superposed. annular disks locking device will be readily apparent.

having notches arranged therein, these disks being rotatable relative to each other in such manner that the notches may be brought into alinement to permit a passage therethrough of the locking-key 16, projecting from the runner-sleeve 5. The lowermost disk of the series, which is shown in detail in Fig. 10, I have designated by the numeral 17 said disk having secured to its under surface a curved spring 18, adapted to frictionally hold the annular disk 17 in its proper position when said disk is set. The upper surface of the disk 17 is provided with a segmental groove 19 and has also a vertically arranged recess 20. Adapted to rest upon'this disk 17 is an annular washer or disk, such as shown at 21, said disk having a recess or notch 22 similar to the notch or recess 20 and a pin 23, which pin is adapted to lie within and move around the slot or groove 19 of the disk 17 when the parts are turned relative to each other. A split bearing-ring, such as shown at 24:, is placed upon the upper surface of the disk 21, which prevents a third annular locking ring or disk 25 being disturbed or affected by the movement of the lower disks, the disk 25 being superposed upon this ring, the last-mentioned member 25 having a recess 26 similar to the recesses 20 and 22, the periphery of this member 25 being provided with any suitable number of notches spaced apart, such notches being shown at 27. When the parts are assembled in their operative position, the notches 27 are adapted to seat the inwardly-extending head or projection 28, formed at the end of the spring-arm 29, which spring-arm is preferably cut from the metal of the top portionof the sleeve.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of my improvzd s mentioned above, the device is intended to lock an umbrella when the latter is closed by the runner-sleeve 5 engaging the spring-catch B in the staff, said spring being covered by the casing 10, which prevents the spring from being uncatched or released except when the combination-disks are set so that the recesses 20, 22, and 26 are in alinement or register,

- which will then permit the lock or casing to slide over the key 16 on the sleeve. This may be accomplished by turning the casing a certain and predetermined number of clicks or steps in one direction, each step comprising the advancement of the head portion 28 from one notch 27 to an adjacent one. This will bring the recess in the upper ring-like member 25 in line with the key of the runner, Which key will then rest upon the subjacent disk. By turning the sleeve in the opposite direction a certain number of clicks the opening or recess 22 in the disk 21 when the latter is rotated will also be brought into alinement of the key or runner, and. as the lowei most disk 17 has its recess 20 held in alinement with the recess 22 the key 16 will pass through all of the alining recesses and the opening in the split ring 24. The casing may then be pushed upward, the lower reduced curved end portion 13 pressing down the spring on the staff, which willpermit' the umbrella to be raised. The number of clicks made by the head 28 coming into contact with the notches 27 is intended to designate the combination, as one familiar with the same will know that by turning the lock until a certain number of clicks have been heard the umbrella may be raised, this being especially advantageous, as the umbrella may be unlocked in the dark. Any number of notches may be provided on this clicking disk, and it is to be noted that the combination may also be changed by changing the position of the contact-pin 23 in the disk 21 and also by lengthening the slot in'the disk 17.

While I have shown and herein described one particular embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction shown herein, as there may be modifications and variations in certain respects without departing from the essential features of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. 1

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a rod having a spring-latch, and a runner-sleeve having a projecting key thereon, of a casing rotatably mounted on the runner-sleeve, said casing inclosing the latch when the umbrella is in its closed position, and a plurality of rotatable annular disks mounted within the casing, said disks having recesses therein, which when brought into vertical alinement permit the passage of the key onthe sleeve, whereby the umbrella may be raised by a portion of the easing depressing the spring-latch, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with an umbrella, and

a runner-sleeve therefor, said sleeve havinga key thereon, of a lock comprising a casing, a plurality of movable annular disks within said casing, said disks having recesses adapted to be brought into alinement to form a passage for the key on the sleeve, whereby the casing may be moved upward on the sleeve to permit the raising of the umbrella, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with .an umbrella, and a runner-sleeve, said sleeve having a key thereon, of means adapted to depress a spring in the rod of the umbrella and permit the raising of the latter, said means comprising a casing, a plurality of superposed recessed disks therein, the recesses of the disks being adaptedto be brought into alinement, the upper- IIO 4. The combination with an umbrella, and

arunner-sleeve having a projecting key thereon, of means adapted to depress a spring in the umbrella-rod and permit the umbrella to be raised, said lock comprising a revoluble casing surrounding the spring on the rod when the umbrella is closed, said casing having a tapered curved end portion designed to bear upon the spring in the umbrella-rod, a plurality of superposed recessed locking-disks in said casing, the lowermost disk having a groove in the upper surface thereof, a retaining-spring secured to the under side of the disk, a pin in the superposed contacting disk, projecting into the groove, a ring on the second-mentioned disk, and an upper notched disk mounted on said ring, the construction being such that when the recesses of the disks are in alinement for the passage of the key on the runner, the casing may be moved upward to depress the spring on the rod, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

RALPH B. WAITE.

Witnesses:

Bangs L. BENSLEY C. J. ELLIS. 

